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March 24, 2026
玻璃bōli(bo1li5)
玻璃 (bō li) refers primarily to 'glass', a transparent material commonly used in windows, bottles, and various containers. It can also refer to items made from glass, such as glassware. In slang usage, it can denote a male homosexual, reflecting a cultural nuance in language.
Strokes23Frequency#2191DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, glass is often used in traditional tea ceremonies, where glass teapots allow for a beautiful view of the tea, symbolizing transparency and purity.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'bowl' of 'liquid' that is so clear you can see through it—this visualizes the transparency of glass. The character 玻 combines the radical for 'jade' (玉), suggesting something precious and clear, while 璃 relates to glass, enhancing the memory of its meaning.
Meanings of 玻璃
bōli(bo1li5)
1glass
2nylon
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 玻璃
玻璃Simplified
23Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#2191Frequency Rank
张Measure Word
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 玻璃
Podcast: 玻璃
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AI Study Notes for 玻璃
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 玻璃 with 塑料 (sù liào), which means plastic; remember that 玻璃 is for glass specifically. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, but be cautious with slang usage, as it may not be appropriate in all situations.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 玻璃 is useful in discussing materials and objects. Focus on how it connects to other words related to materials (such as 塑料, 木头 [wood], and 金属 [metal]) to enhance vocabulary on this topic.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mispronounce 玻璃, confusing the tones; remember it is bō (first tone) li (fifth tone). Additionally, some may mistakenly use the wrong measure word; the correct measure word for glass items is 张 (zhāng) for flat objects or 块 (kuài) for pieces.
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Pronunciation of 玻璃
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玻璃 (bō li) refers primarily to 'glass', a transparent material commonly used in windows, bottles, and various containers. It can also refer to items made from glass, such as glassware. In slang usage, it can denote a male homosexual, reflecting a cultural nuance in language.
When to use 玻璃
Learners often confuse 玻璃 with 塑料 (sù liào), which means plastic; remember that 玻璃 is for glass specifically. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, but be cautious with slang usage, as it may not be appropriate in all situations.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mispronounce 玻璃, confusing the tones; remember it is bō (first tone) li (fifth tone). Additionally, some may mistakenly use the wrong measure word; the correct measure word for glass items is 张 (zhāng) for flat objects or 块 (kuài) for pieces.
Write 玻璃
玻
璃
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Grammar Patterns of 玻璃
玻璃 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
需要保护你的手臂和双腿免受____反射光线的照射。
Your arms and legs need protection from light bouncing off glass.
